TNTL 112

Tineke ter Meer

Huygens' eerste pennevruchten: schoolwerk of toch niet helemaal?

Abstract - Thanks to his autobiography in Latin prose we know much about the education of the Dutch poet Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687). In his early years he was educated at home by his father, Christiaan Huygens sr., and by a tutor. Like other schoolboys he had to write Latin letters and poems. Constantijn's earliest Latin writings were not thrown away in later years (at least not all of them), which is rather exceptional. The manuscripts are still available and enable us to get into touch with the special approach his father had to teaching.